Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-27
ELECTRIC STREET MOTORS.
A Style of Travel That Is Pushing Its Way
in This Country-Three Systems.

n StvIe OF rushing Its " Ay
in This Country-Thrse Systems.
There is good reason 10 think that the cleo.
trio motor is making much more rapid pro-
gress in the United States Oh street railways
than the cable system. In Richmond, Va.
a well known company is eQuippmg twelve
miles of road on which forty cars are to be
run. The same company is eQuipping roads
also at st. Louis, Boston, WoOnsocket, Balti-
more, St. Joseph and various other points.
At Pittsburg three roads are under construc-
ton. Blnghanlton is to have road four and
a half miles long, operating eight motor cars.
At San Diego a road is being constructed
nine miles long, over which four forty horse
power motor cars are to furnish the traction.
But these are only few OF the more promi-
nent enterprises. Not less than fifty-five or
sixty roads are either under construction or
projected in the United States, and the move
ment is continually extending. What will
prove one of the heaviest industries in the
country is apparently springing up as a con-
sequence of the introduction of electricity as
a railway motor.
There are three different systems of trans
mission in use-the first on overhead wires
and the second over wires placed in conduits,
while the third is operated by means Of ac-
cumulators or storage batteries. AS usual in
this country in the introduction of new in
ventions, the system which is least expensive
and complicated will be first in securing POS
session of the field. This is known as the
overhead system A hard drawn copper wire
of small size but great tensile strength is sus-
pended about eighteen feet above the tracks
where it is supported either by bracSeted
posts set in the curb or by special supports on
lateral wires which cross the street from side
to side. In distributing the current the rails
are generally grounded, and form one side Of
the circuit, but in case the connections be-
tween the rails is not good they are re-en-
forced by q continuous conductor. A trolley,
which is connected with the motor by a Sis
pended conductor, runs along the overhead
wire, and makes the desired connection with
the engine. In some systems the motor is
placed under the car in such manner that no
space is lost and no detached motor needed;
but in other devices the motor is detached
and resembles a steam locomotive in its
methods Of operation.
The conduit system, the system which it is
proposed to apply on the Fulton street road
in New York city, is hardly to be called more
complicated than the overhead system, but
the first cost will be necessarily somen hat
greater. 1t seems also that greater difficulty
will be experienced III meeting the obstruc-
tons caused by wintry weather. But this is
al obstacle to be met and overcome by the
resources Of invention Fer large cities and
i'll crowded streets it must be found more
available than the overhead system, with its
apparently greater liability TO accident
II is hoped by electricians that the system
Of storage batteries, or sccumulators, carried
on the cars and securely packed away under
the seats, may eventually be utilized to an
extent that will render aHy outside mechan-
ism unnecessary This seems to be the ideal
system, but it does no: yet appear to be sufa-
GENTLY perfected to enable electricians TO dis
pense with the use of conductors along the
trscks-Nsw York Sun.